clark



.2 Sheets She et 1 J. W; CLARK. Corn-Planter.

Patented May 11,1880.

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".PEI'ERS, PHOTD-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHXNGTON D L 2 Sheets-Sheet 2" W.OLARKQ Corn-Planter.

Patented M ay. 11, 18 80.

N-PETERS, FHOTO-LITNOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ JAMES W. CLARK, OF KIRKERSVILLE, OHIO,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO JOHN ALGEO, OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,488, dated May 11,1880.

Application filed February 20, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES WILLsQN CLARK, of Kirkersville, in the countyof Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements inCorn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters of the runner orshoe class, in which the covering of the seed in the furrow is done bymeans following immediately after the hopper; and the object of my saidimprovements is to simplify the construction of cornplanters of thisclass and to permit the furrow cutter or opener and dropper to workwithin an opening in the shoe. I also design to throw the opener out ofits operating position, so that the corn-planter may be moved from thefield without bringing into play the cutting parts.

The invention and the preferred construction by which I attain my said.objects are hereinafter fully set forth in the following description,illustrated by the drawings, and specified in the claims.

In the said accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view, inperspective, of a planter embracing my improvements; Fig. 2, a verticalsection taken through one of the hinged hoppers, its opener, and theshoe, the parts be- 0 ing in the positions they occupy when in use;

Fig. 3, a similar section, the parts being in the position they occupywhen the hinged open-. ers and their connected hoppers are raised out ofuse, and Fig. 4 a rear view of one of the 3 5 shoes and its connectedparts.

To the front bar of the frame A the toe of each shoe B of two end shoesis attached, the heel portion being secured by rods G G to the rear barof said frame. There is a hopper,

D, for the seed at each side of the frame, each hopper being held by aconnection with the cutter at openerE, and with the carrying-frame F, aswill be hereinafter described. Each shoe B has a slot, at, running fromnear its toe fully through the heel, as shown. The openers E operatewithin these slots, and each opener is hinged to the inner side of theshoe in lugs b at a point above the commencement of the slot to, withinwhich it works, while the end of the cutter is held by a rigidconnection with the bottom of the hopper.

In order to correspond with the shoe when lifted andpresent adragging-surface flush with the tread of the shoe, the opener E istapering in form from its heel to its hinge-arm c 5 5 to and throughoutthe cutting part, and the heel of said cutter or opener has an edgegroove or half-tube, d, coincident with the hopper-exit 0, through whichthe corn drops into the furrow and is covered. This opener E is alsobroader on its cutting-surface at the heel e, where it is fastened tothe hopper, than at any other point, in order to make a furrow wideenough for the corn or seed. That portion of the shoe B back of thedropping-point or opener-heel 0, has the outer edges of the two sidesff, formed by the slot a, turned downward in a gradual taper from saiddroppingpoint to a decidedly downward turn at the extreme end, in orderto cover the corn dropped in the furrow by pressing or handling the dirttogether over said furrow.

As before described, the heel of the opener E is attached directly andrigidly to the hopper D, and while the operation of planting is going onthe openers are held down to their work, in position below the slots inthe shoes,

by means of a lock-bar, Gr, pivoted to the front bar of the frame A, soas to have a horizontal movement, and passing through a loop-strap, g,on the cross-bar of the hopper-carrying frame F, and under a lock, h,Figs. 1 and 2, on the frame A, under the seat H, for the-operator; andwhen it is desired to leave the field the lock-bar is raised by theoperator over the said 8 5 lock h, Fig. 3, thus lifting the hoppers andthe openers to a height sufficient to bringtheopeners in the slots atabove or on a level with the tread-surface of the shoes.

Hinged to the carrying-frame F, and oper- 9o ated by a lever, I,fulcrumed in the frame A in front of the operators seat, (the rod ismaking the connection,) is the arm-carrying board K, which carries thearms L, which operate the seed-slides M, the connection with the slides5 being by holes at therein, through which the .ends of arms L work asthe lever is moved.

The seed-slides have two valves or openings,

a" T, which are for the purpose of acting in connection with the seedand fertilizing divisions of the hopper, so as to drop the fertilizerimmediately after the dropping of the seed.

' I claim- 1. The combination, in a corn-planter, of the curved slottedshoe rigidly attached to the main frame with the curved opener hinged tosaid shoe and adapted to be raised and lowered within the slot thereofto project it below the bearing-surface of said slotted shoe, and to beraised to bring its cutting-edge above or coincident with suchbearing-surface when not in operation.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of the curved slotted shoe rigidlyattached to the main frame and the curved opener hinged to said shoe foroperation within the slot thereof, substantially as herein set forth,with the hoppers, their dropping-slides, and the operating mechanismtherefor, said openers forming a continuation ofthe seed-conduits andadjusted in and out of use by the hopper-carryinghinged frame.

3. The combination, in a corn-planter, of the curved hinged openers andtheir connected hoppers, carried by the hinged frame which carries theslide-operating mechanism, with the curved slotted shoes rigidlyattached to the main frame and terminating in coverers which form acontinuation of their bearing surfaces.

4. In a corn-planter having a shoe or runner at each end, thecombination, with the slotted shoes B a, of the cutters or openers E,hinged at b to the shoes and operating in said slots a, the hoppers D,carrying the openers E, the hopper-carrying frame F, and the lock-bar G,whereby the cutters are adapted to be put into or out of operation,substantially as described.

5. In a corn-planter having a shoe or runner at each end, thecombination, with the slotted shoes B a, of the cutters or openers E,hinged at b to the shoes and operating in said slots a, the hoppers D,carrying the openers, the hopper-carrying frame F, the lock-bar G, andthe lock it on the main frame, whereby the cutters or openers may beheld to their work below the slots, or held above the slots in movingfrom the field, substantially as described.

6. In a corn planter, the slide-operating frame K L, hinged to thehopper-carrying frame F, as described, in combination with the lever I,pivoted to the main frame A, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presenceof twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES WILLSON CLARK.

Witnesses:

T. W. RANKIN, RICHARD Low.

